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W. BLAIR,

GREASE 0R SBAM DAMFENER.

No, 491,331. Patented Peb. 7, 1893. 2

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WILLIAM A. BLAIR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONEIIALF TO D. WV. BLAIR, JR., OF SAME PLACE.

GREASE. OR SEAM DAMPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 491,331, dated February 7, 1893.

Application filed September 12, 1892. Serial No. 445.652. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern;

Be it known that I, Winnniri A. BLAIR, of Chicago, in the county ot Cool; and State of lllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grease or Seam Dampeners; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying dra-wings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which torni a part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of laundry-appliances known as crease or seam dampcners, which are designed to dampen or moisten the creases or seams of stiiiiy starched fabrics such as collars and similar articles; the purpose of so dampening or moistening such articles being to prevent the fabric from being ruptured or torn at the creases or seams when folded over to -form such creases or seams.

The objects of my invention are to produce seam or crease dampener which shall be simple, strong, durable and also capable of rapid and easy manipulation in effecting its work.

To the above purposes, my invention con sists in the novel features of construction and arrangement, as hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a crease or seam danipener embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section ot the same taken longi- Jtudinally through the anis of the reservoir, on line 2--2 ot Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, but showing` certain modifications ci` construction. Fig. el is a detached View, in side elevation, of the dampening ring. Fig. 5 is a detached .perspective View of one of the reservoir members or sections. Fig. G is a detail section showing a modified forni of theparts of the reservoir, adjacent to 'the dainpening ring'.

In the said drawings,Adesignates the handle of the implement, this handle beinfar preferably of wood or seine similar material.

B designates a metallic fork which is secured at its rear end in any suitable manner to the front end of the handle A and the arms h b of which diverge outwardly and forwardly from each other; the outer ends extending` parallel with each other and constituting bearings for the spindle of the reservoir, as hereinafter more fully described.

C and C designate two hollow shells or sections which together form the reservoir or receptacle for the water used in dampening the fabrics or articles. These two shells are shown as of hernisphericalfor1n,which is their preferred form although they may be of any other concave-convex forni, as desired. lVhen in proper operative position these two shells are placed between the arms l) h of the fork B with their concave sides toward each other, thus forming a hollow vessel or receptacle, which, as shown in the drawings, is of spherical form.

The shells C and C are secured upon a spindle D, which passes through said shells and is mounted in the arms of the fork B, so as to sustain the reservoir between the said arms. The said spindle D is shown as secured at one end to the center of the shell C', and as extending through a central aperture c in the shell C. 1n the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, said spindle is formed integrally with the member C', but it may be soldered, brazed, or otherwise secured thereto as desired. An external socket d is formed at the end of the spindle outside of the shell C and the spindle is of such length as to eX- tend past the opposite shell; and is screwthreaded externally on its part d2 adjacent to said shell C. The outer extremity d of the spindle D is reduced and tapered to form a journal or pivot adapted to enter an eye or socket in the adjacent end of the fork.

E designates an adjustable bearing-screw which is inserted through an internally screwthreaded eye in the opposite end of the fork B and the inner end of which enters the socket d of the spindle D. A jam-nut e is screwed upon the outer end of this bearing screw E and serves by impinging against the outer end of the corresponding` fork-arm to retain the screw in any desired position of adjustment. A second jam-nut e is screwed IOS upon the threaded portion d2 of the spindle D outside of the shell C to retain said shell in operative position. One of the members, in the instance illustrated, the member C, is formed with an internally screwthreaded lateral inlet opening c2, for water, and into this opening is inserted the externally screw threaded stem of the screwplug C2.

F designates a flat ring or apertured disk of felt, or other suitable absorbent or porous material, which is of somewhat greater external diameter than the greatest diameter of the two shells C C and which is interposed between the adjacent inner edges of said shells; the ring projecting outwardly beyond the shells and being clamped between the edges of the same by means of the nut e', which when secured against the shell C serves to force the two shells together and thus clamp the ring firmly between the same.

The ring F of absorbent or porous material serves as a means of applying to the articles or goods being laundered, the water contained within the receptacle formed by the shells C C; the porous character of the material forming the ring permitting thewater to escape between the margins of the said members as fast as required to keep in a saturated condition the marginal part of the ring outside of the said shells. The parts or shells forming the reservoir will, of course, be pressed against the ring F with sufficient pressure to hold the same firmly in position, but will not compress the ring sufficiently to prevent the water passing to the marginal part of the ring with sufficient freedom to keep the same constantly moist or saturated while in use.

The pressure of the edge of the ring F against the articles being operated upon will obviously tend to force said ring inwardly, and to insure that the ring shall retain its proper position, I have provided means other than the mere frictional engagement of the parts of the shell with the ring to hold the latter from being thrust inward. In the construction shown in Figs. l to 5, the means for the purpose mentioned consist of teeth or serrations c', formed on the margins of each half or shell of the reservoir (Fig. 5); these teeth or serratious being adapted to partially penetrate or embed themselves in the sides of the ring so as to hold the same firmly from inward movement without obstructing the passage of water through the body of 'the ring. While this construction is preferred as affording a simple and desirable way of holding the ring from inward movement. when in use, other means may be used for the same purpose, as, for instance, that illustrated in Fig. 6, wherein the part or member C of the shell is provided with an inwardly extending iat, annular part c3, terminating in a practically cylindric iange c, adapted to engage the inner surface of the ring and thus support the same equally at all points. In a construction of this kind the inwardly extending part c3 of the shell will preferably be provided wit-h apertures c5 to give free access of water to the ring.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a slight modification of the construction of the spindle, but one which involves no departure from the essential spirit of the invention. In this instance the bearing screw E and its jam-nut e and also the socket d, are dispensed with and the spindle D is extended, as at g, outward through the center of the shell C; the spindle being, as before rigidly secured to the shell C. In this construction the fork is made of steel or other sufficiently resilient material to permit the fork-arms to be sprung apart slightly when the spindle D is to be inserted into its place and the outer ends of the forkarms are formed with suitable eyes or bearing apertures for the ends of said spindle, as shown.

When the crease of a turned-down collar, or the creases of the overturned points of a standing collar are to be moistened, the handle of the implement is grasped by the operator and the absorbent ring is run or trundled along the lines of the creases, or seams. After being thus moistened or dampened the collars are folded over, as required, and the ironing is completed; all possibility of rupturing or tearing the stiffly starched fabric being avoided, while so folding the same. The ring F absorbs water from the interior of the revoluble reservoir, formed by the two members C and C and distributes it in proper quantity precisely upon the line of the crease. Whenever the supply of water in the twopart reservoir becomes depleted, or nearly so, the fact of such depletion is readily detected by the lessened weight of the implement and it is only necessary to' remove the screw-plug C2, inject a proper quantity of water into the reservoir and then again insert the screwplug. The two reservoir-sections or shells C and C may be readily separated for the insertion of a fresh ring F or for any other necessary purpose, by withdrawing the bearingscrew E (if the structure be that shown in Figs. l and 2) or by springing the fork-arms apart slightly (if the structure be that shown in Fig. 3); the jam-nut e being subsequently removed from the spindle D, and thus permitting the two members C and C to be completely separated from each other.

From the above description it will be seen that I have produced a crease or seam dampener which is simple, strong, durable and inexpensive in construction, capable of being easily manipulated, and neat, and also practically continuousin its operation. It desired the two reservoir sections C and C may be made wholly or in part of transparent material, so that the amount of water in them can be readily observed, and it is also to be understood that while I have described the implement as used in moistening the creases IOO IIO

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or seams ot collars, it is equally adapted for moistening seams and creases of all kinds ot stiliiy starched fabrics which are to be folded or creased.

Dampening devices for the same purpose as thatlierein shown have heretofore been made in the forni of two opposing rollers, one ot which is adapted to apply moisture to the article being ironed, but such dampening devices have the disadvantage of acting on the entire length ot the article which is passed between them and while useiul in cases where itis desired to crease the articles Vfrom one margin to the other or from end to end, as when folding over the points of standing collars, yet such a device is entirely useless when itis desired to malte a crease or fold terminating at each end at a distance from the margin of the article, as, ior instance, in ironing turn-down collars which are creased be hind but are iinished with a smooth roll or bend in `front.

The implement herein described and claimed may obviously be used to advantage in dampening the article being laundered at any point or place desired, and either when the place to be dampened is at the middle part only or entends to the margins of the article, while at the saine time the implement is of simple form, may be easily and cheaplyv constructed and readily manipulated.

l claim as my invention:

l. A crease-dampener for laundry use, comprlsin g a hollow revoluble reservoircomposed or two sections or shells, and a ring or mass of absorbent material interposed between the edges of said shells, substantially as described.

il. A crease dampener tor laundry use, com` prising a reyoluble hollow reservoir consisting et a plurality of sections or shells, a mass of absorbent material interposed between the edges ot said shells and projecting somewhat through the shells, and a handle in which said reservoir is revolubly mounted, substantially as described,

A crease-dampener orlaundry use, comprising a hollow revoluble reservoir composed ot two separable sections or shells, a ring or mass of absorbent material interposed between the edges ot said shells, and means for forcing together the shells for clamping the ring between the same, substantially as de scribed.

il. A crease-dainpener for laundry use, comprising a hollow revoluble reservoir composed ot two sections or shells,a mass or ring of absorbent material interposed between the ad jacent margins of said shells, and means for holding the said ring from inward movement, substantially as described.

5. A crease-dampener forlaundry use, comp rising a hollow revoluble reservoir composed ot two sections or shells, a mass or ring of absorbent material interposed between the adjacent margins ot said shells, and means for holding the said ring trom inward movement consisting of serrations on the adjacent margins of the shells, substantially as described.

6. A creasedampener for laundry use, comprising a hollow revoluble reservoir composed of two shells or sections,a mass or ring of absorbent material interposed between the margins of said shells or sections, a handle provided at one end with a fork, a spindle extending between the arms of the fork and passing through said shells or sections, 'and means for forcing the shells toward each other and against the rin g or mass of absorbent material, substantially as described.

7. A crease-dampener for laundry use, comprisin g a hollow revoluble reservoir composed of two shells or sections, a mass or ring of absorbent material interposed between the margins ot said shells or sections, a handle provided at one end with a fork, a screw-threaded spindle extending between the arms of the fork and passing through said shells or sections, and a jam-nut upon the spindle abutting against one ot' said shells or sections for forcing the same together, substantially as described.

S. A crease-dampener for laundry use, comprising a revoluble reservoir composed of two shells or sections, a mass or ring of absorbent material interposed between the margins of said shells or sections, a handle provided with a fork, a spindle passing through the said reservoir shells or sections and having bearing at one end in one of the arms of the fork, and a bearing-screw having screw-threaded engagement inv the other arm of the fork and bearing against the end of the spindle, substantially as described.

9. A crease-dampener for laundry use, comprising a revoluble reservoir composed of two shells or sections,a mass or ring of absorbent material interposed between the margins ot said shells or sections, a handle provided with a fork, a spindle passing through the said reservoir shells or sections and having bearing at one end in one of the arms of the fork, a bearing-screw having screw-threaded engagement. in the other arm and bearing against the end of the spindle, and a jam-nut upon the said spindle for forcing said shells or sections toward each other, substantially as described.

10. A crease-dainpener for laundry use, comprising a revoluble reservoir composed of two shells or sections, a mass of absorbent material interposed between the margins ot said shells or sections, one of said shells or sections being provided with an inlet openingy orV orifice and with a plug removably inserted therein, substantially as described.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing as my invention l affix my signature in presence ot two witnesses.

lVlLLlAM A. BLAIR. vVlitnesses:

Tartes E. BROWN, Davis W. BLAIR, J r.

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